Footage from new film The Strangers which is being made by Norwich-based CMedia. Pictured is a rare photo of the English Muslims, taken outside their squat in Bristol Gardens, London, in the mid-seventies. The musician Richard Thompson can be seen at the back, fifth from right.

Norwich-based charity CMedia is producing the feature-length documentary - called The Strangers - which tells the story of the Norwich Muslim community, thought to be one of the first to be formed in the UK consisting predominantly of converts to Islam.

The project has been three-years in the making, and CMedia is now raising funds to complete the film via crowdfunding platform indigogo.com.

Producer Sean Whyte, who lives in Norwich, said: “Everyday someone in the media is telling us what Muslims want and what Islam is. But the one voice that’s missing in any clear and authentic form is that of the British Muslim. At a time when all we seem to hear are negative stories about Islam and Muslims, this film paints a true picture of what it means to be British and Muslim. Our crowdfund campaign is a chance for people to help us make sure this important story is told.”

The film tells the story of how a group of British Muslim converts left London in the 1970s, attempted to create a Muslim village in the Norfolk countryside and finally settled in Norwich.

Meanwhile a group of young West Indians in South London had their own appointment with Islam and were to find their answers to their questions in the Norfolk community of English Muslims.

The Ihsan Mosque, in Chapelfield East, in Norwich, became the first mosque in the UK to be established by British converts to Islam and now has a community of about 200 people.

The filmmakers are looking to raise just over £17,000 by the end of August, and already had more than £3,500 of that pledged.

If successful, the money would be used to capture new footage in Morocco and Spain, to enter the film into international film festivals, and to market it to a global audience with the ultimate aim of screening the documentary in cinemas and on television in 2015.

The 40-day crowdfund campaign began on July 22 and runs until August 31.

Depending on the amount they donate, people will receive perks ranging from t-shirts and DVDs to VIP tickets to screenings and a special mention in the film’s credits.

• For more information and to donate funds visit http://igg.me/at/thestrangersdoc

• Follow @thestrangersdoc on Twitter and find The Strangers on Facebook.